In some remote Turkish village of Kuskoy, whistling is as important as talking.In fact, whistling is talking because the villagers speak and sing by whistling.Kuskoy parents begin to teach their boys and girls the language of whistling about the time the children learn to talk.It is considered so important that the village school includes it as one of the subjects taught along with the Turkish language.

This art of communication has taken centuries to develop.The village of Kuskoy spreads out across two hillsides that are separated by a deep valley.The villagers had to find an easy way to communicate where their voices couldn’t carry.They developed a high-pitched (高音的) whistle language that could be transmitted as far as five miles through air.As a result, Kuskoy, which means “bird village” in Turkish, has come to be known as a whistler’s paradise (乐园).

Whistling is so much part of everyday life in Kuskoy that men and women speak, argue, and court (求爱) in whistles.The story was recently told of a young couple who ran away secretly.The news was sent over the “mountain telephone” by whistling.The lover’s adventure was quickly known to all the villagers.

It is little wonder, then, that the children of Kuskoy study whistling in school.Wouldn’t it be fun to start the school day with a song—whistled of course!

The children of Kuskoy learn to whistle because __          _.

              A.it is fun                       B.it is an important way to communicate

              C.it helps them learn to sing       D.it is like the Turkish language

In Kuskoy, whistling as a way of talking started __             _.

   A.recently           B.hundreds of years ago

       C.fifty years ago              D.ten years ago

Which one of the following statements is true according to the passage?

   A.The high-pitched whistle can be heard at a distance of 5 km.

   B.The parents were too ready to allow the young couple to marry each other.

   C.The villagers found an easy way to communicate where they could be heard.

   D.The villagers of Kuskoy are often informed of news by whistling.

Which of the following do you think is the best title for this story?

   A.To Learn Whistle Is Very Important  B.Whistling Is Fun

   C.Whistling—The Mountain Telephone       D.The Strange Turkish Language

A Book Review—The Snake-Stone by Berlie Doherty

The setting: Urban England (the cities), but also rural England (the countryside) including remote English villages.

The theme: The main theme is a teenage research of self-discovery, in this case the search for a mother from whom the hero was separated at an early age.Its other concerns are love, getting on with others, being persistent and courageous and trying to deal with doubts, troubles and worries.As the book moves to a close, James’ swimming coach says to him: “You are not like a kid obeying instructions any more.You are diving like a young man who knows where he is going.”

The characters: James is the hero of the story.He is a championship diver, and has a comfortable life with his foster parents (养父母).Yet he also has the qualities to take him on a long journey to find his birth mother.The other characters in The Snake-Stone, James’ parents, his diving instructor, best friend, the villagers, people he meets on his journey, are pictured realistically.

The turning point: The turning point in the story comes while James’ foster parents are away in London, and he wonders about the identity of his birth mother.The only clue he has is a fossil, “the snake stone” which she left behind along with a note on which she had written: “Take good care of Sammie.It was written on a torn envelope with parts of an address still there.

The journey: Instead of going to London, James decides to find his birth mother.With help from his geography teacher, James sets out for the remote country village where his mother might be found.James has painful, challenging, but also humorous and happy travels.The mother he finally meets, Anne, has a minor yet powerful voice in the novel.He comes to understand why she left him at a stranger’s door fifteen years before.Although the meeting is not long, it leaves him with a feeling of completeness.As a journey of self-discovery The Snake-Stone also provides its readers with a happy ending.Its hero says, on returning to his foster parents, “I was home.”

1.What is the main theme of the novel?

A.A journey of self-discovery.

B.Life in the world of diving.

C.Life with foster parents.

D.A travel around the country.

2. What do the coach’s words in Paragraph 2 suggest?

A.James is a successful diver.

B.James is an independent young man.

C.James is an outgoing young man.

D.James is a hopeful swimmer.

3. The snake stone in the novel is        

A.a stone with an address on it

B.a gift from the swimming coach

C.a clue left by the birth mother

D.a fossil left by the foster parents

4.Which of the following is true about the novel?

A.The story has a sad ending.

B.The story takes place in the city of London.

C.The characters are vividly described.

D.The turning point comes after the hero meets his birth mother.

5.It can be concluded that James’ journey is _________.

A.disappointing

B.boring

C.comfortable

D.worthwhile

 

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